3 July 2012 Quantum Conundrum

BAJOThis was designed by Kim Swift, the designer of the original Portal. And you can definitely feel that Portal DNA here, it's structured just like it and they're both first person platformer games where you use a special device to solve physics based puzzles.

HEXYeah, they are quite similar but this is still very much its own game. As it begins you're dropped off at your Uncles house, but of course he's no ordinary Uncle, he's eccentric Scientist Fitz Quadrangle.

BAJOAnd it's not long before things seem to go horribly wrong and poor old Fritz traps himself in some alternate dimension. Leaving it up to you to work your way through his vast mansion and save him from wherever he is.

HEXFritz is basically this games version of GlaDOS, providing some not so encouraging banter and useful hints as you play. He's nowhere near as funny or snarky as GlaDOS but he's still an entertaining guide.

BAJOAnd any Trekkies, or as we prefer Trekkers, out there will probably recognize the voice actor as John De Lance, who played the delightfully quirky Q on Star Trek The Next Generation.

HEXYeah, and to help him escape, Fritz gives you his Inter-Dimensional Shifting glove. A device that allows you to switch between a bunch of different dimensions, it takes awhile to get access to each dimensions but that's mostly because it's just easing you in to each of them and their possible puzzling potential. The first one you get access to is the Fluffy dimension which turns everything soft and pink and fuzzy so you can pick up heavy objects and through them around easily.

BAJOFluffy! Then later on you'll unlock the Heavy dimension, which makes things heavy. After that you earn the slow-motion dimension, and finally there's the reverse gravity dimension. And things get really interesting once you have to start combining all of these dimensions. For example you might use fluffy to pick up something and throw it, then slow down time to jump on it, and then reverse gravity to surf it across a gap.

HEXAnd in another nod to portal most of the puzzles involve using weighted companion cubes, or safes and cardboard boxes in this case. And you use these to smash windows, activate switches or form stairs and platforms to jump across. And talking of platforms, your jumping skills will be put to the test just as much as your puzzle solving skills, prepare to fall to your death a lot.

BAJOAnd to be able to use a dimension you need to have that dimensions battery in that rooms receptacle. Some rooms come with all the dimensions you need already available as soon as you walk in, but lots of puzzles involve trying to reach other batteries to unlock more dimensions and complete the room.

HEXI would've liked if there were a few more puzzles that gave you access to all four dimensions at once though. You only get reverse gravity right near the end of the game and they usually limit you to just a few dimensions in each puzzle.

BAJOTrue, but I didn't really mind that. Most of the puzzles are right up there with Portals, they're just so well designed, and there's only a handful that have rough edges. It always does a great job showing you all the parts and possibilities and leaving you to do a bit of trial and error to figure it out, and when you do figure it out you feel heaps smart.

HEXYeah, that's true. And depending on your dimensional shifting skills, it will probably take about five or six hours for most people to finish. There's good incentive to replay levels though, each level has time and shift goals to beat as well as leader boards, and hidden noise-bots and blueprints to track down. And with a couple of DLC packs to come I hope they'll go a bit crazier with the puzzles.

BAJOYeah. Also I really liked the cartoony look of it. And I especially liked how all the paintings change depending on what dimension you're in.

HEXI loved Ike, that weird little cat creature that kept popping up.

BAJOHe was a bit creepy in slow mo though, and what was with this?

BAJO and HEXAll Hail the Hypno Ike!

BAJOAnyway let's wrap it up, final thoughts Hex?

HEXWell I had a great time with this, it's got all the intelligent design of Portal but with its own unique twist. I'm giving it 8 out of 10.

Azzcalibur :

Redneck Worm :

dr3w1st :

07 Nov 2013 11:27:00am

Rating:
Funny version of portal like game with the best intro music ever made. Used to just leave it on the start screen to hear that awesome song over and over :-) Sounds like the presidents of the USA if ur old u may remember them!

Rails62 :

Striker15987 :

Emmett :

The Foofster :

09 Jan 2013 9:43:10pm

Rating:
If you have some cash get it. It's no portal game but hey, how on earth can you get up to those standards? Awesome, and puzzles like portal's little brother. You would be better off with Portal 2